Tour of Erice

Explore the charms of the mediaeval town of Eryx

Erice or Eryx in English, a village perched on top of Mount San Giuliano, is an ancient name that goes back thousands of years. The Tour of Erice will take you along its streets, cobbled in polished stone and with geometric motifs. You can almost hear the footsteps of the peoples who inhabited these places, sailing from one side of the Mediterranean Sea to the other. A long and complex history, rich in patterns that thicken even more during some periods with the interweaving of traditions and legacies that still survive today.

From the top of the hill, with its all-round view - like a work of art painted with the colors of the sea and the countryside of Trapani - you can see the Egadi Islands and the coast after Marsala but also the Tyrrhenian Sea, towards San Vito Lo Capo and beyond.

Its impressive walls will entice you to enter a suspended atmosphere, between alleys and courtyards full of flowers, where small craft stores will show off carpets and ceramics.  The fragrances of the typical and world famous pastries of Erice will be a pleasant distraction for you during your tour of Erice: delicious cookies shaped by expert hands with almond paste and other savory ingredients.

Erice was a sacred village devoted to the adoration of the Goddess Venus in times now remote, but whose memory is not completely lost. It captivates with its mediaeval churches, rich in marble and holy vestments, with its stories of saints and the figure of the Virgin Mary of Custonaci, patron saint of the villages of the Erice countryside, Regina Pacis and Stella Maris.

A place that offers charm and different inspiration combined with the harmony that is breathed in certain corners of the village, away from the crowd . Eryx is a town immersed in an unparalleled natural setting, surrounded by sea breezes and sometimes by unexpected fog.

The tour of Erice is a walking tour. After the tour, you can rest in the shadow of the trees, in the Balio Gardens, with the stunning backdrop of the Norman Castle and its towers. Experience the charms of this village of timeless beauty.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Stradine medioevali di Erice;
• Castello di Venere;
• Cattedrale;
• Mura;
• Giardino del Balio